Hey, first time posting on the board, but I've read a lot on the site so far. I'm looking for my first car, and my dad told me he saw a '92 Firebird for sale on the side of the road earlier today. Only problem with it is that its the 3.1L V6 with a 5spd. I understand that I'll need to replace the front springs and the tranny with a V8 700R4 or 4L60E or 350TH or something similar, but anyways, I was wondering how easy this would be to do if I don't have a donor car?

My uncle has always been quite into cars (he's a mechanic, as it is, and he used to love messing with his own cars) and he has a Chevy 350 small-block (set up for carb) and a Chevy 454 big-block sitting in his garage, just begging for cars to be thrown into. Both need to be rebuilt, but he knows how to do all of that, and I think it'd be fun to learn it as we go along. I understand the costs associated with rebuilding and engine and all as well.

The car my dad found is a base 1992 Firebird with the 3.1L V6. If I were to get this car, I'd switch it to carb, no doubt. My main question is, would I be able to put the beasty 454 into the Firebird, or it just be too big for the body? Otherwise, we do have the 350 small-block as well.

None of this would be happening right away, I'd be driving stock with the V6 (maybe some minor modding ) until probably next summer or so, but I'm just trying to get some ideas. TIA!

 

My suggestion would be to go with the small block. You can bolt a 454 in, but you have to mash the firewall in a little bit and it just doesn't fit as good as a 350 does. I think for your first experience swapping motors, you should definatley go with the easier of the two. And I also think you should ship me the 454

 

just to add they now have a 454 small block made by world products. it's featured in the new hot rod mag. just thought i'd let you know.

Nick

 

Cha Ching $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

*whistles* Wow, I've heard of 406ci small-blocks, but never a 454 small-block

Anyways, I'll check out that car in the next few days and talk to my uncle and see what he thinks about it. I'll have to price it all out too. What would be a good, yet decently-priced 5spd (6spd = too expensive usually) manual tranny? 350TH? V8 700R4? Eventually, my plans are for supercharging and nitrous.. but those won't come for probably at least two to three more years.

 

Aight, checked out ThirdGenResource and found that they have used T56 full-conversion kits for $1500 and full-conversion T5 kits for $850. They also have used V8 700R4 autos for $350. Would either the T56 or T5 work for the V6 3.1L until I do the engine swap or do they only support the V8 bolt-up, meaning I would have to wait til the engine swap?

Those are all quite a bit cheaper than I had expected, though they are used. Has anyone had any experience buying used trannies from ThirdGenResource? I'll check the local junkyards too, but these prices seem pretty fair to me from what I've seen.

 

I don't think the T-56 will work with the 3.1. I could be wrong though.

 

the trannies for v8 and v6 are diffrent. You can use a 6cyl t-5 behind a v8 but a healthy v8 will break a t5 (internally all t5s are the same, except for wc vs nwc).

 

Here is the way I look at it,

You talk to somone about ur car, and they say whatcha got under there?

scenario 1: ah the 350
response: cool

scenario 2: Well, that would be a 454

Response HOLY SH** HOW FAST IS THAT MODA TRUCKER, WOW

and then he steals ur car.